We're in the final week of Safe Digging Month. Maybe you’ve heard our radio or television PSAs. Maybe Sunshine 811 popped up in your browser while online. Or, you saw our billboard while driving. These are some of the ways we’ve promoted “811 before you dig” this April.

Sunshine 811 is pleased to present the findings of its 2019 Effectiveness Survey, conducted to measure stakeholder satisfaction with the current state of the 811 process, identify where improvements could be made and develop potential solutions.

Sunshine 811 introduces Xtreme Access for the Positive Response System. It was developed after excavators expressed concern over the limited amount of information non-Internet Ticket Entry users could access in the field. Hurricane recovery left many of them making extra calls to supervisors for contact information and maps.

Yesterday, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared April to be Safe Digging Month in Florida. It serves to remind homeowner and professional excavators to always call 811 before every project that involves digging so buried utility lines can be located.

Join damage prevention industry professionals working together to help make Florida the safest place to dig. You’ll see how the 811 process fits into all stages of your excavation or demolition project and can be key to a safer crew and outcome.

It's still the best deal around at $65 for golf at one of the top courses in Florida, with continental breakfast, lunch and fabulous prizes! Get your name out there with a $200 sponsorship and have a little fun at the same time. Join us May 17th by clicking on the "Read more" link and registering.

Beginning January 28 and running four weeks, the following message will run on radio stations throughout the West Palm Beach area: An excavator was recently fined by the State of Florida for not calling 811 before digging and damaging a buried gas line. Don’t let this happen to you, always call 811 before you dig.

Communication. Understanding. Respect. Trust. These are the qualities demonstrated by past Locator Excellence Award winners. Preventing damage to buried facilities is a responsibility shared by everyone involved. And those four qualities are key to a successful process. Whether you're an excavator or utility, nominate a locator who demonstrates these qualities for the Locator Excellence Award!

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today announced the issuance of a Final Rule that amends the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations for plastic piping systems used in the transportation of natural or other gas. The updates in the final rule are intended to improve safety, allow for the expanded use of plastic pipe products in the transportation of natural or other gas, and allow or require the use of certain materials and practices.

Sunshine 811 recently completed a series of emails to its member facility owners to update their contact information. This is something we do each year, but it’s becoming a critical part of our daily operation as some ignore our plea.

We consistently hear from excavators that the phone numbers are incorrect or out of service. And during hurricane season, members rely on this information to coordinate storm recovery efforts with other members.

“Our member service representatives update contact information on a daily basis,” Sunshine 811 Technical Operations Manager Bill Heath explains. “Whenever we discover an outdated contact, we work to find the correct information.”

Updating contact information is a simple action to help each member comply with, § 556.112, Fla. Stat., which requires all Sunshine 811 members to update their design services information annually.

“Although excavators must notify 811 and wait the required time before digging,” Sunshine 811 Executive Director Mark Sweet explains, “they may have questions about your response to their locate request. To help protect your underground facilities from accidental damage, it is essential that all members provide Sunshine 811 with accurate and current contact information to facilitate direct communications with excavators who will be digging near your facilities”

Members

Below are the 11 contacts types within Sunshine 811’s system. If you are a member and have not updated any of the contact information listed below, please contact our Member Services Department at (800) 651-6720 or email them at memberservices@sunshine811.com.

Excavators & Others

If you’re an excavator, locator or other stakeholder and cannot reach a member using the contact information on your ticket or in the emergency phone book, please complete the quick form by clicking on SUBMIT INCORRECT MEMBER CONTACT INFORMATION below. Member Services will use your information to begin getting the updated contact information.

Reaching the right person at the right time could help save the life of a contractor digging near your buried facilities.

Submit Incorrect member contact information

2018 Contact Update

Your Name *

Your Name

First Name

Last Name

Your Email Address

MEMBER INFORMATION

Member Company Name

Member Number *

Contact Type *

Incorrect Phone Number *

Incorrect Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Thank you!

Contact Types

Emergency Contact: The emergency contact is the person listed on emergency tickets and included on the emergency contact list. This number should be answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Alternate Contact: The alternate contact receiving location is where locate tickets are sent when your primary receiving equipment is not working properly.

After Hours Contact: The after-hours contact is someone who can be contacted outside of your organization's normal business hours.

Billing Contact: The billing contact is the person or department to receive the monthly invoice and annual assessment letters.

If you are currently receiving paper invoices and would like to receive them electronically, email memberservices@sunshine811.com your member code and the email address or addresses where you would like us to send your invoices.

Catastrophic Contact: The catastrophic contact is someone who is contacted before, during and after a storm, natural disaster or other catastrophic event. This contact is included in our emergency contact list.

Damage Contact: The damage contact is the person primarily responsible for submitting damages as required by § 556.102 (12)(a), F.S. This person is also responsible for maintaining user accounts in the Florida DIRT System.

Database Contact: Person or department responsible for setting up and maintaining your company’s service area registration. This may include manually drawing your service area on the maps in our system, or it may be the person responsible for uploading shape files and approving their release into production.

Engineering Contact: The engineering contact is the person or department responsible for design requests as required by § 556.112, F.S.

Receiving Location Contact: The receiving location contact is a person or department that monitors and receives locate tickets from Sunshine 811. This person is also contacted with ticket delivery issues. This is also the default contact provided to excavators requesting member contact information.

Temporary Type Contact: The temporary type contact has access to a limited set of permissions at online811.com including entering positive response information for a ticket. This contact is not typically contacted for receiving or database-related issues.

Locating underground facilities is a difficult job. But it's also a satisfying job. Just ask the four winners of Sunshine 811's Locator Excellence Award. Throughout June, they were presented their awards in front of their peers.

Sunshine 811 and industry stakeholders including the Florida Natural Gas Association, TECO Peoples Gas, AT&T, Florida Internet and Television, the National Utility Contractors Association of Florida, and the Florida Energy Pipeline Association, have asked the Legislature to conduct a study of Florida’s damage prevention law enforcement program with recommendations for future legislation as appropriate.

This request follows annual determinations made by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), U.S. Department of Transportation, that the State of Florida's enforcement of its excavation damage prevention law is INADEQUATE.

PHMSA’s determinations, made initially for 2016 and again for 2017, have opened the door for federal enforcement action to be taken against excavators that violate federal one-call law and damage PHMSA-regulated pipelines with fines of up to $205,648 per violation per day with a maximum civil penalty of $2,056,380 for a related series of violations.

Purpose of Legislature Study

Identify options and future legislation needed to bring the State of Florida in line with federal enforcement standards;

DISCLAIMER: Sunshine 811 provides this web site for informational purposes only. Any other use is strictly prohibited, and Sunshine 811 is not responsible for damages of any kind caused directly or indirectly from the use of this web site or the use of any web site linked to the Sunshine 811 web site. Sunshine 811 has attempted to provide accurate information, including the reproduction of Chapter 556, F. S., but all information is provided without any warranty of any kind as to its accuracy, and the Sunshine 811 web site should not be used as a legal reference. Use of the web site shall be at the users own risk, and such use shall constitute acceptance of these terms.